Landon Donovan Named US Soccer Player of Year for Record 6th Time

U.S. national team forward Landon Donovan has been named U.S. soccer's player of the year for the sixth time. He was the youngest player to win the award in 2002, and this year set another record.

Landon Donovan edged out national team goalkeeper Tim Howard and forward Jozy Altidore in the vote by 221 American journalists. A 27-year-old forward with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Donovan has earned six out of nine Honda Player of Year awards since 2000. This year he was also named U.S. player of the decade.

He is the all-time goalscorer for the U.S. national team, with a total of 42 goals in 120 games.

He says he had three aims at the beginning of this season.

"One was qualify for the World Cup," said Landon Donovan. "The second was get the Galaxy to the playoffs. And the third was to be as complete a player as I can be at this point in my career."

Donovan says all three have been accomplished. The U.S. team earned a 2010 World Cup berth with a 3-2 win over Honduras October 10, and the LA Galaxy will join the U.S. Major League Soccer playoffs for the first time since 2005.

The forward tells VOA that U.S. soccer has made progress in the past decade, getting more support from fans and the media.

"There's all kinds of measurables, but from a playing standpoint, I think it's pretty clear that we're now developing players that can play anywhere in the world," he said.

At the Los Angeles ceremony, Donovan received his latest trophy, and a new car.